Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., January 10, 2009 Tevet 14, 5769 | | Israel Time: 04:13 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 09:57 07/01/2009
Obama breaks silence on Gaza, voices 'deep concern' over civilian deaths
By News Agencies and Haaretz Service
Tags: hamas, gaza, israel news 

Barack Obama, who takes over as U.S. president from George W. Bush on January 20, broke his silence about the violence in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, calling the loss of civilian lives in Gaza and in Israel a "source of deep concern for me."

Obama added he would adhere to his principle that only Bush should be the voice of U.S. foreign policy at this time but he would have plenty to say after his inauguration in two weeks.



Nonetheless, Obama said that he is "not backing at all from what I've said during the campaign we're going to engage effectively and consistently in the peace process."

"We've got plenty to say about Gaza, and on January 20, you'll hear directly from me," he added.

Meanwhile, the United States on Tuesday signaled some flexibility over Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip, saying it would like to see "an immediate ceasefire" but emphasizing any such agreement must be durable, sustainable and indefinite.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to the United Nations on Tuesday was designed to show that the United States was open a variety of ways to achieve a cease-fire.

"We would like an immediate cease-fire, absolutely," McCormack told reporters, speaking after Israeli tank shells killed at least 40 Palestinians at a United Nations school where civilians had taken shelter. "An immediate cease-fire that is durable, sustainable and not time-limited."

Rice was headed to the United Nations on Tuesday to meet Arab ministers as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a bid to get a cease-fire deal in Gaza, the State Department said.

"The purpose of her trip is to move forward the international efforts to create a cease-fire in Gaza," said a State Department official.

Related articles:
  • French President Sarkozy: Deal on Gaza truce 'not far away'
  • Mediators: Put expert engineers on Gaza-Egypt border to stop smuggling
  • At least 30 Gazans killed in strike on UN school; IDF: Troops fired in self-defense
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fallen hero
    Relatives mourn Maj. Roey Rosner, 27, killed Wednesday by Gaza militants.
    On the northern front
    Hezbollah denies responsibility for two rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon.
      1.   I just hope Obama values Jewish life as much as the life of ... 08:07  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 07/01/09
      2.   WORST FEARS 08:44  |  PARIS 07/01/09
      3.   Throw Israel under the bus 08:48  |  Kevin 07/01/09
      4.   Ha`aretz, get the quote right! 09:34  |  US Citizen 07/01/09
      5.   Obama and "Change" 09:54  |  John 07/01/09
      6.   A new Gazan order 09:59  |  Gregor 07/01/09
      7.   Analyze Masochistic Liberalism 10:07  |  David Gottfried 07/01/09
      8.   Questions for #1 10:15  |  David 07/01/09
      9.   To #3 Kevin - Get your facts straight 11:30  |  JM 07/01/09
      10.   Obama breaks silence 11:42  |  Critical Observer 07/01/09
      11.   Please stop the killing 12:09  |  Tarik 07/01/09
      12.   Tarik 12:28  |  JonathanInTelAviv 07/01/09
      13.   Obama busy lunch with Bush 12:35  |  Dav 07/01/09
      14.   Obama will recognise that hamas is the killer. 18:12  |  Indra 07/01/09
      15.   Kevin #4, your address, if you please ..... 18:18  |  disgusted American 07/01/09
     Read & React
    UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce
    Responses: 165
    UN: IDF officers admit Gaza school shelling was by mistake
    Responses: 101
    Akiva Eldar: Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas
    Responses: 62
    Gideon Levy: Those who justify Gaza war justify all of its crimes
    Responses: 173
    Bernard Avishai, Sam Bahour: Israel playing into Hamas' hands
    Responses: 49


    More Headlines
    01:01 Hamas claims it hit IAF base 27km from Tel Aviv
    03:50 U.S. seeks to ship hundreds of tons of arms to Israel
    04:01 Israel rejects UN truce resolution, continues Gaza operation
    01:12 3 Israel Defense Forces soldiers wounded in Gaza fighting
    00:55 Obama aide denies report he will launch low-level contact with Hamas
    02:21 WATCH: U.S. House passes landslide vote backing Israel in fight against Hamas
    02:12 Hamas: UN Gaza truce resolution 'does not meet our demands'
    23:41 UN to resume suspended humanitarian aid in Gaza
    21:16 ANALYSIS / Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas
    18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
    02:10 EU diplomats: Egypt's refusal to station foreign troops on Gaza border holding up truce
    01:54 VIDEO / 30 Gaza rockets strike Negev, one person lightly wounded
    20:26 UN: IDF bombed building in Gaza that housed civilians
    12:23 Text of UN Security Council resolution for Gaza cease-fire
    02:06 Syria protests Israel Golan wine gift to UN staff
    21:31 Iranian state TV station says IDF strike targeted its Gaza offices
    19:20 'Viva la Gaza!'
    20:29 Jewish group in Italy slams boycott initiative of Jewish-owned shops
    18:30 UN peacekeepers discover rocket cache in south Lebanon
    19:46 Hamas, Fatah infighting mars Palestinian 'day of wrath'
    04:46 ANALYSIS / Hamas seeks Gaza war of attrition ending in IDF pullout
    03:02 Obama calls Iran a threat to national security, but supports diplomacy
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Academic Studies in Israel
    All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved